|
|
Hello 'Frodo' & 'Farley' Goodbye 'Emmit'
‘Farley’ and ‘Frodo’, two 8-week-old Golden Retriever puppies from Arangold Kennels in Christchurch, arrived at the Queenstown Airport on 17th March, and for a short time that made four Mobility Dog puppies being raised in the Southern Lakes District...quite a milestone for our little, fledging puppy club! However, ten days later that number was reduced by one when we said goodbye to ‘Emmit’, the first MD pup to be raised on the South Island. Raising ‘Farley’ and ‘Frodo’
‘Frodo’, a bit darker than his brother, is being raised by us. So it starts all over again, and we look forward to the fun, the challenges and the opportunity to continue educating people about Mobility Dogs. ‘Farley’ and ‘Frodo’ are busy adjusting to their new digs and their crates, trying to ‘connect the dots’ when they hear the words bizzy-bizzy, learning to recognize their names and to sit and wait for their food. So much to discover and learn. A New Chapter in ‘Emmit’s’ Life From his arrival in the Southern Lakes District in February 2008, readers of this journal have followed ’Emmit’s’ progress from a leaky, roly-poly, powder puff to a gorgeous, mature dog with a lovely, mellow spirit and 50-plus commands under his collar. A new and exciting chapter begins for ‘Emmit’ as he enters advanced training in Auckland. Involved in this next phase will be getting ‘Emmit’ accustomed to working around a wheelchair, revising some tasks (i.e., opening/closing doors, paying over the counter) and introducing new tasks, such as barking on request, activating elevator and pedestrian crossing buttons, loading/unloading the washing machine and other miscellaneous tasks as needed. If all goes well, in two to four months time, the matching process will be finalised, and ‘Emmit’ will be an invaluable helpmate and constant companion to a very lucky person. Stay tuned to this website for ‘Emmit’ updates now and again. An Undeniable Roller Coaster Ride
‘Emmit’ Is Bid Farewell Soon after ‘Emmit’ came to us, we made an appointment to visit the Arrowtown Primary School to introduce him to the children. A special assembly was called to welcome ‘Emmit’. After that, whenever we took ‘Emmit’ out and about in town, children would call out in greeting to him as if he were another school chum – the new (and very popular) kid in town. A few times during the year, ‘Emmit’ returned to the primary school to demonstrate his progress. The day before ‘Emmit’s’ leaving, we arranged a final visit to the school so that the children could say good-bye and wish him well. We described what was in store for ‘Emmit’ upon his return to Auckland and that after ‘college’ he would be matched with his ‘forever person’. We explained that as well as helping his person, ’Emmit’ would be a good buddy and would get and give lots of kisses and cuddles.
After the children had had an opportunity to ask questions and we were ending our presentation, Grant asked the children if they would now like to say good-bye to ‘Emmit’. The response was a resounding yes! and Grant removed ‘Emmit’s’ vest and leash. As the children, seated in a large circle, called to him, ‘Emmit’ cruised from one group of children to the next and then, as if on cue, broke out in a run around the perimeter of the circle as eager hands reached out to touch his flying fur. It was as if this was his lap of honour - rejoicing in his accomplishments thus far and celebrating the next phase of his journey. Meet Tony and Viv – Puppy-raisers Extraordinaire!
It’s been an absolute joy to watch ‘Elsa’ learn and mature under Tony’s gentle but firm and consistent handling and Viv’s calm nurturing. Tony’s dog handling experience comes from having numerous dogs of all breeds during his childhood and more recently raising pet dog, Caesar, a Curly Coated Retriever, who lived to be 17. Retired from civil engineering, project management (Tony) and teaching and clerical (Viv), these puppy-raisers lead an active retirement lifestyle as members of Probus, Gardening Club, Book Club, the Historical Society, and Vintage Car Club; consequently, ‘Elsa’ is also quite the social butterfly. If she could say so, she would probably exclaim with her usual effervescence that her favourite leisure activity is riding in Tony’s 1929 Delage, originally owned by his grandfather’s cousin, Sir Malcolm Campbell, of land speed record fame. The positive side of puppy-raising as described by Tony and Viv: “It’s fun, rewarding and keeps us fit.” The down side: “The parting. We don’t look forward to that day.” Tony and Viv’s Proud Raisers Moment was recently described by Tony as follows: “We were at the Probus club gathering, and I had asked ‘Elsa’ to down and stay in a corner of the room while I collected my tea and biscuit. No problem. On my return, I deliberately dropped my wallet some 6-7 metres away and then gave the look, get it, bring it here requests. ‘Elsa’ responded beautifully, much to the delight of the on-lookers. Just then our President deliberately dropped his keys. I again gave ‘Elsa’ the commands, and she promptly responded but instead of giving me the keys, she returned them to the President!! How’s that for intuition or should we call it simply brains.” Yes, perhaps intuition and brains, but we add dedicated training to the equation! With that fun puppy-raising story, we salute Tony and Viv for their enthusiasm and hard work. It certainly shows in the form of one “very happy bundle of joy” – as Tony recently described ‘Elsa’. In closing this month’s journal, we’d like to thank the people of the Southern Lakes District for their support and interest in ‘Emmit’ and Mobility Dogs. Fond farewell wishes to ‘Emmit’
Judy and Grant Puppy-raisers, Puppy Development Liaison
Posted: Mon 30 Mar 2009 |
© Copyright 2008 | Mobility Assistance Dogs Trust | Registered Charitable Trust CC24410 | New Zealand
...and ‘Farley’ and ‘Frodo’ Make Four 
We are pleased to welcome new raisers, Heather and Steve, to the Mobility Dogs team! They are raising 'Farley' and come with experience in dog handling having had two Golden Retriever pet dogs. 
As puppy-raisers we often get asked the question: “How can you ever let the dog go?” Of course, we have our melancholy moments as the inevitable turn-in time draws near. However, good-byes are a part of life, and we knew from the first tug on our heartstrings that this day would inevitably come. Yes, theoretically, we have had a year or more to emotionally prepare, but as you can imagine, this is easier said than done. When I watched ‘Emmit’, his usual bouncy self, and Grant, somewhat sombre, climb the steps to board the aircraft that would wing ‘Emmit’ back to Auckland, I won’t deny that I had a heavy heart and a lump in my throat as the plane disappeared into the clouds and I drove home to a house without ‘Emmit’. However, you simply cannot pine away for too long when you’ve got a 9-week-old puppy to attend to, and your mind and time is occupied with mixing puppy food formulas, house-training, keeping electrical cords, slippers and socks intact and cuddling. Yes, surely the best antidote to ease the heartache of saying good-bye is holding a soft-as-duck-down, cute-as-a-button Golden Retriever puppy in your arms. 
Tony and Viv, hailing from Auckland, moved to Queenstown full time four years ago, and are raising ‘Elsa’, the second pup to come to the Southern Lakes District. ‘Elsa’s’ stellar behaviour on socialisations and her proud and unruffled display of commands speaks well for Tony and Viv’s puppy-raising skills. 